Indicating and carrying means for portable radio receiving sets



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(Cl. Z50-14) 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to indicating and carrying means for a portable radio receiver, and more particularly to an improved arrangement wherein the indicating and carrying functions are in part performed by a single element.

Commercial radio sets of the portable type are in substantially all cases each equipped with separate and non-related facilities for carrying the set and for indicating the signal channel to which the set is tuned. In the usual radio set of this type, the tuning indicating facilities are rather delicate in construction, requiring complete enclosure thereof for protection against mechanical breakage when the set is being carried from one location to another. The carrying facilities for a set of this character usually comprise a handle mounted upon the outside wall of the housing. In general, the handle constitutes an unsightly appendage and fulfills only the single purpose of facilitating transportation of the set, Thus cumulative costs are involved in providing the handle and indicating facilities, since they are totally devoid of common parts.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide improved and partially common facilities for transporting a portable radio set and for indicating the setting of the tuning means embodied in the set.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable radio set in which at least a part of the carrying handle for the set functions as an element of the means for indicating the tuning of the set.

According to a, further object of the invention, the carrying and indicating means is formed as a part of the set chassis, thereby to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the housing and chassis.

It is another object of the present invention to provide tuning indicating facilities which are visible from any one of a, plurality of diiferent sides of the set, thereby to permit tuning of the set to a desired signal channel from any one of the different sides of the set.

In accordance with still another object of the invention, all parts of the carrying and indicating assembly, and particularly the grip part of the handle, are of simple and inexpensive construction, and are so rugged as to eliminate the necessity for enclosing the indicating parts of the assembly during transportation of the set.

According to a still further object of the invention, the structural arrangement and disposition of the carrying and indicating assembly relative to the housing is such as to enhance rather 2 than detract from the pleasing appearance of the set.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specication taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portable radio set provided with indicating and carrying facilities characterized by the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end sectional View taken along the lines 3--3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top View of the carrying and indicating facilities.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is there illustrated in its embodiment in a portable radio set which comprises a chassis I0 enclosed within a housing I I and supported upon a bottom cover member I 2. In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the chassis I0 is provided with combination indicating and carrying means indicated generally at 20 in which one element of the carrying handle, i. e., the round, hollow, tubular grip part 22 coacts with an elongated flexible indicating element which substantially fills the bore of the grip part 22, i. e., the round flexible cord 23, visibly to indicate the setting of the adustable tuning means I8 provided in the set and more particularly the signal channel to which the set is tuned.

More specifically, the housing I I is provided with thickened side walls IIa which at the lower edge of the housing are stepped or cut back to provide a bearing shoulder for the marginal edge of the cover member I2. This member is secured to the side walls IIa by means of assembly screws I 3 which extend through the cover member I2 and are threaded into the housing side walls longitudinally thereof. As best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the chassis I0 is provided with an elevated supporting wall Illa upon which are mounted the various circuit elements of the receiver. These elements comprise a plurality of electron discharge tubes I4, I5 and I6 socket mounted upon the wall Ia, a transformer I'I, and the tuning means I8 which comprises a variable condenser having the required number of gang connected sections for uni-control tuning of the tunable stages included in the circuit of the set.

More specifically considered, the present improved indicating and carrying means 20 comprises a handle base 2| formed of molded plastic material and extending through an elongated aperture IIc suitably formed in the top central portion of the housing II. This member is provided with a finger receiving hollow 2|a in the central region thereof, and with upstanding end parts 24 and 25 having aligned openings 24a and 25a for receiving and rigidly supporting the ends of the handle grip part 22. This grip part is in the form of a round elongated plastic tube formed of a moldable transparent plastic material such, for example, as Lucite, having the required mechanical strength to support the entire set. The components of the indicating and carrying assembly 2|), including the parts 2| and 22 just described, are supported between tWo frame members 26 and 21 which are fxedly mounted upon the upper wall Illa of the chassis III More in detail, the frame member 25 comprises two upstanding parts 26a and 2Gb which are connected across their upper ends by a transverse part 25o. The other frame member 21 is of an identical construction, being provided with a transverse part 21c which extends between the ends of the two upstanding parts 21a and 2lb. Along its opposed ends, the handle base member is recessed asindicated at 24h and 25D for mounting upon the two transverse frame parts 26C and 21C. Assembly screws 43 extending through these frame parts and threaded into the base member 2| are employed rigidly to mount the handle base upon the frame members 26 and 21. In order to enhance the appearance of the set by eliminating discontinuous edges therefrom, the base member 2| is also recessed along the dash line 2 Ib to provide a continuous seat within which is disposed the marginal edge of the housing which defines the aperture IIc. This structural arrangement also has the advantage of providing a dust tight connection between the base member 2| and the housing II.

For the purpose of actuating the tuning condenser !8 of the set, thereby to change the tuning of the set for the reception of different transmitting stations radiating at different carrier frequencies, a tuning shaft 33 is provided which is suitably journaled within openings through the side parts 26a and 26h of the frame 25. To the rear of the frame part 26a, this shaft carries a sprocket 35 which is connected in driving relationship with the condenser shaft drive sprocket I9 by means of an endless chain 36.

In addition to the transparent grip part 22 of the handle and the flexible elongated indicating element 23, the indicating facilities of the set comprise a pair of reels 29 and 30 disposed at opposite ends of the handle part 22 and between which the element 23 is tensioned. More specifically, the reel 29 is rotatably supported by a pivot rod 3| which extends between the frame parts 26a and 2Gb and is iixedly anchored to these parts at its ends. Internally of the takeup drum 29a forming a part of the reel 29, a biased spring 29h is provided which is connected between the drum 23a and the rod 3| to bias the reel 29 for rotation in a clockwise direction. The opposed reel 30 is similarly rotatably supported upon a pivot rod 32 which extends between and is anchored at its ends to the two frame parts 21a and 21h. This reel also comprises a take-up drum 30a internally of which is provided a biasing spring 30h which is tensioned between the drum and the rod 32 to bias the reel 3U for rotation in a counter-clockwise direction. With this structural arrangement, the indicating element 23 may be initially wound upon the reel 29 with the inner end thereof fixedly connected to the drum of the reel. The opposite end of the indicating element is then wrappd over a soft rubber friction layer 34 adhered to the shaft 33 and threaded through the bore of the tube 23 for xed connection to the drum 29a of the reel 29. These operations are performed before the reel supporting rods 3| and 32 are anchored to the frame members 26 and 21. With the rods 3| and 32 free to rotate, the excess portions of the element 23 may obviously be equally distributed between the two drums 29a and 39a with the tuning condenser I8 adjusted to a setting wherein the frequency band pass circuits of the set are tuned approximately to the middle of the frequency range over which the set is tunable. With this distribution of the element 23 between the two reels 29 and 30, the rods 3| and 32 may be further rotated in opposite directions to tension the springs 29h and Sb by the amount required to maintain the element 23 in taut engagement with the friction layer 34 and the lower wall of the grip part 22. After the required tension is established, the rods 3| and 32 may be rigidly anchored to the side parts of the two frame members 26 and 21 in any suitable manner.

For the purpose of concurrently actuating the tuning condenser I8 and correspondingly moving the indicating element 23 through the grip part 22, a knurled actuating roller` 31 is provided to engage the upper surface of the element 23 and compress this element against the friction layer 35. This roller is carried by a pivot pin 33 extending transversely between the side parts 26a and 2Gb, and projects through an opening 39 provided at one end of the upper wall of the housing I I. A balanced appearance of the set is obtained by providing a second knurled roller 40 which extends through an opening 42 in the opposite end wall of the housing I I and is supported upon an axis pin 4I extending between the side parts of the frame member 21. This dummy roller may either be mounted for rotation about the shaft 3| or may be xed against rotation as desired. It is also contemplated that the roller 4Q may be utilized to control the on-off switch of the set by reverse rotation thereof with the axis pin 4I.

From the above explanation it will be understood that through nger manipulation of the knurled roller 31, rotary movement may be imparted to the tuning shaft 33 to thus rotate the tuning condenser I8 to any desired setting within its tuning range through the driving connection afforded by the sprockets IQ and 35a andthe connecting chain 3G. Incident to such rotation of the roller 31 the indicating element 23 is unreeled from one of the two reels 29 and 3G and taken up by the other reel. Thus if the roller 31 is rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the element 23 is unreeled from the reel 29 and taken up by the reel 39. Incident to the reeling out rotation of the reel 29 the spring 29h is increasingly tensioned. Conversely, incident to the reeling in rotation of the reel 3U the tension of the spring 30h is correspondingly decreased. In this regard it is noted that the helical springs 30h and 29D have a sufficient adjustability as regards the tension thereof to permit full rotation of the tuning shaft 33 within the limits of the tuning range of the set without producing back rotation of this shaft when a tuning operation is completed. In other words, these springs provide only sufficient tension to maintain the indicating element 23 taut without in any way interfering with the tuning of the set.

As will beapparent from the above explanation rotation of the knurled roller 3l to change the setting of the tuning condenser I8 results in a corresponding movement of the element 23 through the grip part 22 of the handle. Along the top, side, and bottom surfaces thereof, the grip part 212 is provided with four circumferentially separated sets of scale markings 22a indicative of the carrier frequencies of the signals which the set is capable of receiving. To index with these scale markings, the indicating element 23 is divided into two halves longitudinally thereof and the two halves are impregnated with dilferent colors such, for example, as red and blue. Thus a change color line 23a is provided centrally of the element 23 to index with the scale markings 22a of the transparent grip part 22 in indicating the signal channel to which the set is tuned. Since this line extends around the entire circumference of the element 23 to index with the longitudinally spaced markings of all four scales 22a spaced apart around the circumference of the grip part 22, it will be understood that indications of the tuning of the receiver are provided which are visible from either side and the top of the set.

From the preceding explanation it will be apparent that the present invention aifords an eX- ceedingly simple arrangement for discharging the two functions of tuning indication and set portation, and that all parts of the arrangement are simple and inexpensive. Thus the handle base 2l is of such configuration that it may be easily molded at low cost from any suitable plastic material. The grip part 22 is comprised of a section of standard transparent plastic tube stock having the appropriate inner and outer diameters and hence is also of low cost.

While one embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, which are within the true spirit and scope of the. invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable radio set having a housing, a unitary structure distinct from the housing comprising, in combination, a chassis disposed within the housing, laterally spaced frame portions Secured to said chassis, and a rigid handle portion for carrying the radio set extending between and joined with said frame portions independently of the housing, said handle portion being disposed at least in part outside of the housing.

2. In a radio set having a housing, a unitary structure distinct from the housing comprising, in combination, a chassis disposed within the housing, laterally spaced upstanding frame portions secured to said chassis, a cross portion extending between and joined with said frame portions independently of the housing, said cross portion including a transparent section disposed above the housing in spaced relation thereto, tuning means supported by said chassis and said frame portions, and frequency indicating means having a stationary part on said transparent section and a movable part disposed directly beneath said transparent section, said movable part being operatively connected to said tuning means.

3. In a portable radio set having a housing, an approximately rectangular framework adapted to be disposed mainly within the housing, said framework comprising a lower portion including a chassis, upstanding side portions at the respective ends of said chassis, and an elongated upper portion extending between said side portions, all said portions of said framework being rigidly joined together and being structurally distinct from the housing, said upper portion being disposed in part outside of the housing and in spaced relation thereto so as to afford a grip for carrying the radio set.

4. In a portable radio set having a housing, an approximately rectangular rigid framework adapted to be disposed mainly within the housing, said framework comprising a lower chassis portion, upstanding side portions connected to said chassis portion, andan upper carrying portion joined with said side portions and having a hollow grip part which communicates with the interior of the housing, said grip part being disposed mainly outside of the housing and including a transparent section, tuning means for the radio set carried by said framework, and frequency indicating means including a stationary part on said transparent section and a movable part extending through said grip part, said movable part being operatively connected to said tuning means; all said portions of said framework, said tuning means and said indicating means constituting a structural entity distinct from the housing of the radio set.

5. In a portable radio set having a housing, an assembled mechanism adapted for mounting as a structurally distinct unit within the housing including, in combination, a chassis, rigid means for carrying the radio set including frame portions secured to the chassis at each end thereof and extending upwardly therefrom and a carrying portion intermediate the frame portions extending over the chassis, said carrying portion having a hollow center and a transparent top face, indicating means including a stationary part on said transparent face and movable part disposed within the hollow center, and mechanical and electrical means included in said assembled mechanism for concurrently tuning the radio set and actuating the movable part of said indicating means in accordance with the frequency to which the set is tuned.

6. In a portable radio set having a housing, an assembled mechanism adapted for mounting as a structurally distinct unit within the housing including in combination a chassis, rigid means for carrying the radio set including frame portions secured to the chassis at both ends thereof and extending upwardly therefrom and an elongated generally horizontal carrying portion extending between said frame portions over the chassis, said carrying portion having a transparent section disposed outside of the housing, tuning instrumentalities for the radio set, a pair of reels respectively journaled on said rigid means at opposite ends of said carrying portion, indicating means including a stationary part on said transparent section and a movable element on said reels extending through said carrying portion in proximity to said transparent section, and operative connections between said reels and said tuning instrumentalities for longitudinally positioning said movable element in accordance with the frequency to which the set is tuned.

7. In a portable radio set having a housing, an assembled mechanism adapted for mounting as a structurally distinct unit within the housing including in combination a chassis, rigid means for carrying the radio set including frame portions secured to the chassis at both ends thereof and extending upwardly therefrom and an elongated generally horizontal carrying portion extending between said frame portions over the chassis, said carrying portion having an exposed part which is hollow and provided With a transparent section along the top thereof, tuning instrumentalities for the radio set carried by said carrying portion and said chassis, said instrumentalities including an actuating roller journaled in said rigid means near the top thereof and rotatable on a horizontal axis at right angles to said carrying portion, and also including a pair of reels respectively journaled in said rigid means at opposite ends of said carrying portion and adapted to be actuated by said roller, and an indicating element on said reels extending through said hollow carrying portion in proximity to said transparent section.

8. In a portable radio set having a housing and frequency changing means included therein, a mechanism movable as a unit adapted to have the housing secured to the outside thereof, such mechanism comprising a complete mechanical combination of chassis means for supporting a complement of radio set elements including the frequency changing means, frame means extending above said chassis and over the set complement on said chassis, said frame means including a hollow handle portion with a transparent portion therein, tape means movable through the hollow in said handle portion and visible through said transparent portion for tuning indications,

and reel means mounted on said frame means having said tape means thereover and adapted for operative connection with the frequency changing means.

VICTOR A. DOCKENDORFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 92,651 Flaherty July 3, 1934 613,967 Carter Nov, 8, 1898 777,985 Watson Dec. 20, 1904 .1,787,298 Ziola Dec. 30, 1930 2,119,576 Goldstine June 7, 1938 2,220,590 Vogt Nov. 5, 1940 2,300,617 Crowley Nov. 3, 1942 2,397,306 Whipple Mar. 26, 1946 

